WARNING: The following contains spoilers from Wonder Woman #785, on sale now from DC Comics.
Wonder Woman has lost a vital part of her identity now that her mother, Hippolyta, is dead. That has led to Diana making an ill-thought-out decision that could have made matters even worse by attempting to turn the Lasso of Truth against all the Amazons to find the culprit.
However, in Wonder Woman #785, by Michael W. Conrad, Becky Cloonan, Rosi Kampe, Tamra Bonvillain and Pat Brosseau, after taking some time to reflect on what her mother’s passing means not just for herself but for all Amazons, Diana came to a decision. Accepting that she was too unstable emotionally to wield the lasso with integrity, she surrendered the powerful weapon to Nubia. Diana did this not only to demonstrate her trust for the Amazonian way of life but also as a step to achieving her mother’s dream of uniting her people.
Diana’s reaction to her mother’s murder was not unfounded. The lasso presented a quick-and-easy way to discover who had killed Hippolyta. Even the new queen of the Amazons, Nubia, agreed that there was logic to be found in the argument. However, the queen decided to reserve this tactic as a last resort, preferring instead to discover the truth through a trial. Diana abided by these wishes and took some time to pray, being accosted by what she believed to be a ghost, who helped her realize that she was torn between her duty and her desires. For that reason, she then relinquished her signature weapon to Nubia.
This was not the only reason, however. Not being at her best was definitely a part of it, but it was also realizing what would have happened had she gone through with using the lasso in such an unethical way. While the lasso could have easily exposed the truth, it would have been detrimental to the trust established between the Amazons. To use the lasso on everyone would signify that no trust exists even between the different Amazonian tribes. It could drive a wedge so deep between her people that it would be nearly impossible for reconciliation.
A trial, on the other hand, is as much a symbolic gesture as it is a practical one. It puts all Amazons on equal footing, establishing that they are all a part of the process and trusting that the truth will be uncovered naturally. Realizing this, Diana forsakes her own desires for immediate vindication and instead commits to the road that will ultimately better serve her people.
While this is a sacrifice for the Amazonian princess, what Diana stands to gain could make up for it. If successful, the trial could be the start of true peace between the Amazonian tribes. It could even bring Diana a measure of peace over her mother’s death by seeing Hippolyta’s dream of unity among the Amazons finally being realized.
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